50 Best Italian Restaurants near Swampscott

“Last night I had the pleasure of visiting Volo Craft Pizza in Swampscott, MA — and wow, what an experience! 🌊🍕 The ambiance right by the water is beautiful, with Boston’s skyline in the distance, and the service made us feel right at home. Owners Pina and Tony are so warm and personable — it truly feels like family when you’re there. Now, the food… absolutely incredible. Having grown up with New York City parents (and with my own background working in a pizza restaurant), I know good pizza when I taste it — and this was next-level. Their Detroit-style Double Trouble pizza with hot honey was out of this world. 🍯🔥 The Caesar salad with fresh-grated cheese was crisp and flavorful, and don’t even get me started on the cannolis with chocolate chips and lemon — pure heaven. 🍋🍫 I’d happily drive 35 minutes any day for this. The pizzas are clearly made with love, and I can’t wait to bring my parents back to try it. If you’re anywhere near the North Shore (or even if you’re not) — do yourself a favor and try Volo. Highly recommend! 🙌 #VoloCraftPizza #SwampscottMA #NorthShoreEats #PizzaLovers #DetroitStylePizza #BostonEats #FoodieFavorites“

“The most amazing dinner experience we’ve ever had! Theresa made us feel like family and even kept my 7 year old laughing and excited the whole meal. Her food takes you right back to Italy and it’s made with so much love. We traveled from Texas and tried it on a whim - WOW best meal/experience of the whole trip. I am forever grateful for the meal and kindness you gave to me and my family. Please don’t hesitate, just jump in and try her place today!“

“This was the last day of my Salem trip and we were looking for comfort food. This was totally it! I heard Massachusetts was famous for their roast beef, and this was literally the best one I have ever had. It was delicious!!!! Also tried the burger, onion rings, and pizza. So fresh, and I can’t stress enough delicious! This is a cute little local spot, with also friendly beautiful amazing staff, thank you! This added to my amazing experience, I will dream about that sandwich and I will be back! Thank you! 10 stars!“

“My son has special needs and we were treated with such kindness. I’m so thankful for the service provided and giving us a larger table to eat at so my son doesn’t get burnt. Heather is compassionate and made my heart smile! The food is beyond superb and there is no doubt that Logan and I will be back soon! ❤️“

“Great Fast Service. Great Food. 6 Stars 🌟 Six“

“Pazza is AMAZING! Great service and the food is incredible. Highly recommend!“

“First time in the city and this was an amazing dinner for us. The food is delicious.“

“Ciao…I love them so much. Their food never fails to amaze me. Owners are amazing, shout out *Edson and Marvin*. Will be eating here again!!🙌🏽“

“By far the best, authentic Italian food in the North End. We have dined at several restaurants but the service, ambience and food is the best! They make their own pasta and sauces daily. I cannot recommend Casarecce enough. Delicioso.“

“We accidentally met Chef Lester earlier in the day; ironically, we already made a reservation for my birthday dinner later that day, before this introduction. He mentioned the Pumpkin Risotto special and said when we returned to ask for him. The food was excellent and he personally came to our table to check on us. He then had our server bring us a beautiful platter of desserts, topping off an outstanding experience and birthday celebration! I will definitely be back!“

“Perfect place for Mothers Day when Valet is a must!“

“Arya is a GEM, the owner and staff are phenomenal and wonderful people. The menu is FANTASTIC. I booked a reservation for 6 on a Saturday night for a special occasion. I am a total moron and somehow thought it was for 6:30 - showed up and obviously the table was no longer available. Met Mossimo and explained it was our fault, and in particular MY dummy mistake. He was so kind and found us seating, the staff was incredible, the food was amazing, and this place has loyal customers for life. Could not recommend more strongly and emphatically!“

“We went there tonight. The food was delicious. The staff were amazing. We loved everything about this place. Thank you for a wonderful dinning experience. We will definitely be back.“

“Amazing food and service with authentic Italian hospitality!“

“The second we walked in we were met with amazing service. The staff is super pleasant, and helpful. They were able to accommodate a dietary restriction in my party with ease and enthusiasm. Every single dish in the chef’s tasting was fantastic. The food was full of flavor and the portions were a good size. I would come here any time any day, Chef/Owner Jen came to check in on us and chatted with us and was super nice. Love this place. Come here for a great time.“

“What amazing food! Salvo took such good care of us. Recommended fabulous dinners and made us a specialty cocktail. Highly recommend!“

“Grilled Clams make it so worthwhile“

“Exceptional Italian food. Extremely pleasant and generous offerings. Strongly recommend to family and friends.“

“Excellent food and service“

“By far the best food and atmosphere! Cheryl was our server and was simply outstanding! The portions are huge and the food is fresh and inspired!“

“Delicious food. The bread/dough for the panini and pizzas is light and airy and very delicious. Plenty of toppings on the pizza with large potions for the price. Also have gelato with lots of authentic flavors. Best pistachio gelato I've ever had.“

“This place had the best chicken Parmesan we had ever eaten. I’m so glad we stumbled upon this place that was not too far from our hotel. Our waitress was so kind and attentive.“

“Amazing food and great customer service! Put this place on your To Go list in Boston!“

“Very nice staff and delicious food“

“Wonderful experience at Rossetti. Our first time there. The service is outstanding and the food to die for. Best Italian restaurant I have ever eaten at. Love love love this place. Try it you will not be sorry.“

“I love The Berry Tavern. It's has a great vibe. Lots of good menu options. The food and cocktails are delicious. The owners and staff are great as well; my favorite night is Thursday because of the music. 👍🏼“

“The quality and presentation of the food was top notch. We were incredibly impressed by the dining room layout and staff. If you are looking for a place to propose to your significant other… this is NOT the appropriate place. As I mentioned the food was the finest I’ve ever had; however, the music was terrible. We felt like we were in a 1990’s discotheque. The music was loud, very heavy beat and not remotely romantic. We did mention to our waitstaff and they attempted to get it turned down to no avail. No coffee or dessert available either. I understand space is limited; however you have two of the finest dessert businesses well within walking distance. Even if you only carry two desserts. I would still go back there for the food with the hopes of different music…even soft jazz would be acceptable.“

“The food was great, but what really made this dining experience so phenomenal & memorable was our waitress Fabiola. Such a bright personality that made this night with friends one I’ll remember forever.“

“My husband & I had a lovely lunch there this afternoon. Our first time there. Will certainly be back. Thank you so much for your hospitality.“

“Stopped by Davios on my way out of logan. Food was pretty good. Had the burger which was very filling if you're hungry. The bartender Diego was awesome! Friendly knowledgeable and hilarious. I'll be stopping in again and again just for the great service!“

“Quality ingredients. A sublime attention to detail. Balance in salty, umami and heat. The broccoli Caesar is a must have along with the homemade ricotta. I sat at Chefs counter and got wonderful attention from everyone. Amazing!“

“Took my brother in for his birthday 9/8, the waiter was great the food was great and the atmosphere was great and Linda at the front door of course was also a great woman and funny! Now my brother is taking me back for my birthday 9/16 who needs the nort end when we have this great family Italian restaurant right on foster st in Peabody!“

“My boyfriend and I had an incredible meal at Isabella this weekend! The taste and quality of every dish was top-notch. To start, we ordered the burrata and calamari- both fantastic. We each got a pasta dish as our entree. I ordered the delicious spaghetti and meatballs while he ordered the carbonara (claimed it was the best he's ever had). The pasta portions were very generous as well. For dessert, we shared the affogato and cannoli. The affogato was fantastic but I have had better cannoli. The atmosphere was so cozy and the restaurant overall had a nice ambience. It's very small inside and the tables are close together, so I'd definitely recommend a reservation especially on the weekend. Because it was a smaller restaurant, the noise level was naturally louder, but I wouldn't say this disrupted our experience one bit. It was a nice combination of music and conversation, and we could still hear each other talk. The only thing we were slightly disappointed by was the service. It was a little difficult to hear our waitress and she failed to mention the specials for the night. We only knew there were specials because we heard another server telling another table about them. They were also on the chalkboard outside. She frequently came to our table, though, and cleared dishes when we were done. Our food came out VERY fast, which I didn't mind because we were hungry, but if we were looking for a long dinner we probably would've felt a bit rushed. Overall, I highly highly recommend Isabella. The food was absolutely incredible and I will be back next time I visit Boston!“

“This is the spot if you want Italian food that isn’t just the classics! Super delicious and fresh flavours - I really enjoyed everything we got.

For an app we got the “MITAKE MUSHROOM TEMPURA, ALMOND ROMESCO &
STRACIATELLA” which was such a nice combo of flavours and textures. The mushrooms had minimal seasoning to let the quality of the ingredient shine through.

Our two pastas were: “BUTTERNUT SQUASH CASONCELLI, SAGE, BROWN BUTTER, TOASTED HAZELNUTS, VIN COTTO” and the “PACCHERI, ROASTED JOYBERRY FARM MUSHROOMS, BRUSSELS, BLACK TRUFFLE BUTTER.” Truly enjoyed both of these - the pasta was cooked to perfection. I liked the butternut squash one a little bit more but they were both excellent.

I’m not one to gush about service but it’s truly great here. They are attentive without being overbearing and overall make the experience relaxing. My only note is that the space is on the smaller side so it’s a little noisy. However, that won’t deter me from coming back!“

“Wow. This is the kind of place where I’m sitting there thinking, “now this is 5 stars.”

It came to light because at some point we heard that 1) they had won a James Beard award (which is on display right up front), and 2) the Culurgiones (Sardinian stuffed pasta) were to die for.

When we arrived, we immediately appreciated the level of service provided - for example, our coats were taken and hung up. The wine menu is also authentic Italian - I ordered a Nebbiolo rosso.

As a party of two, we split an antipasto, a primo, and a secondo. First was an excellent burrata. Second was the famed Culurgiones (pictured) - so pillowy and tasty. Third was the roast half chicken. This was the best roasted chicken we’d had in quite a while. So juicy and well seasoned.

We finished with the tiramisu (tasty, well-presented, and bigger than we thought) and the cannoli (comes with two).

The atmosphere was lovely and so was our server, Paige.

Looking forward to coming back sometime!“

“Food delicious!! I told them they stole my sauce and meatball recipe! Best meatballs ever“

“First experience at LFG and wont be our last! Food was ON POINT! So much food and everything was delicious ! Fantastic gluten-free options and super mindful of allergies/safety. Michelle our server was fantastic and accommodating and helped us celebrate our daughter’s birthday. LFG has a whole new meaning! Let’s flipping go (LFG) to Lla Familia Giorgios (LFG)!“

“Great atmosphere and great food! Everything was great! Will definitely be back“

“Excellente expérience. On passait devant le restaurant qui n'avait l'aire de rien de l'extérieur, mais en entrant j'ai immédiatement changé d'idée. Christian nous a accueilli avec un grand sourir et son service était plus qu'excellent. Les meilleurs canoli et cappuccino que j'ai goutés depuis un bon moment. C'est certain que j'y retourne la prochaine fois que je suis à Boston!“

“Love everything about this place. Even i walk in all the bar tenders know me. I'm a regular here. Food is AMAZING owner has a place next door called Samballos also a 5 star in my eyes. These ppl know what they are doing! Sebastian the bar tender and Jonathan are both awesome, drinks are great, atmosphere is great food is amazing! I get the lobster ravs or the chicken marsalla every time. I have nothing bad to say about this place. Absolutely love it here“

“Come here all the time and it is by far the best pizza I’ve ever had! Everything is great, from the bread to the desserts. The owners Sonia and Sean are the best!“

“Food quality is cheap ingredients. Veal is tough. Service is rushed. Cheap tomato sauce. Servers are overwhelmed and rude“

“We recently ordered from Gallo Nero Ristorante in Peabody for my mother’s 85th birthday, and it was truly one of the BEST dining experiences our family has ever had. Every single dish was exceptional, fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with pride and passion. We ordered a little bit of everything, and every item exceeded our expectations. The Thick Sicilian Pizza, both cheese and pepperoni, was absolutely outstanding, perfectly crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and packed with rich, authentic flavor. The tomato and mozzarella salad was incredibly fresh, bright, and beautifully balanced. The pastas were the stars of the show. The Lobster Ravioli, generously filled with real lobster, was hands-down the best we have ever tasted anywhere. The Butternut Squash Ravioli was velvety, sweet, and unbelievably fresh. The Eggplant Rollatini was tender, cheesy, and baked to perfection. We also received soft dinner rolls and the most delicious homemade focaccia, courtesy of the owner, and it was out of this world. And speaking of the owner, Nick, deserves special recognition. He went above and beyond for us. He made an exception to deliver the order personally, ensuring the food arrived on time and piping hot, and he took the extra step to double-check that everything was perfect. His kindness added a personal touch that made the celebration even more meaningful. Gallo Nero made my mother’s milestone birthday truly unforgettable. If you're looking for exceptional Italian food with unmatched service, we cannot recommend Gallo Nero Ristorante highly enough. Thank you, Nick, for helping make our celebration so special!“

“While at the feast this morning, staff were prepping their outdoor table when my elderly mom and I were being harassed by a stranger. Staff quickly ushered us inside despite them being closed to the public today, then offered us free coffee (which was great by the way!) and we waited safely there until the coast was totally clear. They were so kind to my mom and I and it showed me that they value everyone’s safety which is so important especially in food service. We truly appreciate it are now happy new fans of Mangia Mangia, we can’t wait to return for a full meal!!“

“Went for dinner Sunday with my son and had one of the best meals I’ve had in a very long time. From the Service, the bread in that oil was amazing to the shrimp scampi and the tiramisu. Highly recommend!!!“

“Everyone was so friendly and great food. I love seafood and I am glad they had it. I glad they closed their kitchen late at night like 11 pm. I could enjoy a meal without reservations. Excellent five stars for me.“

“Victor’s is amazing!!!!! We had a party was last night and the centerpiece was the food!!! Everyone RAVED about how delicious it was, I can’t tell you how many times I mentioned Victor’s on Lincoln Ave. 🥰🥰🥰. You’re the best and well keep coming back for more. THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!!!!! 🥰🪩“

“Everything about the store is on point! The homemade pastas that you bite into and your teeth feel that little firmness,😃, the flavors that your palate starts taking on, your brain instantly wants MORE! As you savor (and possibly moan a bit to loud lol) the incredible flavors of something as simple as carbonara, w/prosciutto, red onions & Romano cheese. Every visit, including take-out has been 💯% spot on! Mentioning take out, we recently dined outside, and watched the grubbers (grub hub) mad dashes in and out multiple times! We recognized at least 3 drivers, non stop pickup and drop orders, repeatedly! Thank you so much Little Store for your incredible hard work (when no one wants to work and think they should get everything free🤬🤬🤬) You are what America is built on! From the front of the house to last dish washed, you are all a generous team, so it appears from the outside. Great Job! P.S.Your freshness is duly noted!!! There are desserts, lemon mascarpone 🍰 cheesecake (can’t remember if it’s cake or cheesecake…red, red, wine..) Just stupid delicious at the end of a fantastic meal!! And I have had the chocolate torte or something like that…. 😱😱equally as good! I would just ROLL in them if it was acceptable…🤣🤣🤣so yummy!!! Thanks for letting me share my joy of The Little Store… and there legit hardworking staff!!! 👍👍👍“

“Everything about Limoncello’s is terrific. I started back in the early 2000’s having lunch when visiting family that lives in Chelsea. Then we came this past summer for my son’s 10th birthday. We dined there Friday and Saturday night this past weekend because my son loves it so much. If you haven’t tried it, then get there! It’s the best I’ve had in the North End! Maurizio is a gentleman and his family treated us wonderfully. Chico is a great server and LuLu is quick witted, kind, and BEAUTIFUL! Every staff member was great…especially one person that really made my boy feel special.“